Former presidential spokesperson and Arise Television anchor Reuben Abati has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to explain how the Edo State chairman of the All Progressives Congress allegedly served as an accredited observer during the recently concluded Ekiti State Governorship Election 2026.
The controversy emerged after Jarret Tenebe was seen in a viral video wearing a vest associated with INEC while reportedly acting as an election observer.
The development has triggered widespread criticism, with many Nigerians questioning the neutrality of the electoral process and raising concerns over possible bias in favor of the ruling party.
Speaking during The Morning Show on Arise Television on Tuesday, Abati questioned the circumstances under which Tenebe was accredited.
He said, “The APC chairman who was adorned in INEC accredited uniform, I probably think that is for fashion but the election observers are supposed to be non partisan.
“They should be neutral and unbiased, that is why many of them are drawn from non governmental organizations.
“But the APC chairman is a partisan person wearing an INEC uniform. That is the source of the controversy. INEC owes Nigerians an explanation.
“How did the uniform get to him? Who accredited him as an observer? Under what circumstances did he become an observer?”
Abati’s comments add to growing public pressure on INEC to address the allegation and clarify whether established observer accreditation protocols were breached during the election.
